Post by High Priestess on May 29, 2016 7:11:12 GMT
Daniel shared on Bedder HOsting Nov 2014
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-93799
How do you respond to threats from prospective guests?
Recently a prospective guest threatened to walk away if I did not respond to her immediately. I replied by saying that this reservation would not work for us. Why?
Over the years I have learned to become more selective with people who might not be the right fit for our place. My general perspective is that this saves a lot of time and frustration in the long run (for both parties), even if I lose out on some short-term revenue.
Would love to hear in the comments from people who have a similar or different perspective. What do you look for in guest screenings? How would you have handled this situation differently?
Dan
Full story on my blog @ www.remotecontrolrentals.com
10 comments•3 likes
Following
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Lula and Larry
Sally
Rina
Gordon
Gordon2 years ago
I'm afraid to say that this lady would have got the instant decline from me. I have a whole load of parameters which my guests have to fit in to. If they don't fit, they don't stay. Simples!
Reply Liked 3 likes
Cheryl
Cheryl2 years ago
If someone is dishing out threats, I would decline them. Such response shows their behavior and I would wonder what they would be like in person and in my home. Not worth the pain.
Reply Liked 2 likes
Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
What a lovely way to start a (business) relationship. "If you don't respond quickly I will take my business elsewhere."
This would be my response:
.
Reply Liked 7 likes
Deborah
Deborah2 years ago
If I experience any sign of a prospective guest being demanding, I would prefer to have nothing to do with them. It is reasonable to expect that a person who is demanding in one way will be demanding in other ways and that they will be a nuisance. I would have responded in the same way you did. Even when a prospective guest seems rude or pushy, I try to respond politely, but also concisely.
Reply Like 2 likes
Deborah
Deborah2 years ago
Here is a thread I posted on New Hosts forum about red flags I look for in prospective guests:
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-76121
I just was communicating with a prospective guest, to stay for 3 months, who I am thinking I will decline. He is already in my area, a student in my area, and looking for a place to stay for 3 months, at the end of which, he says he doesn't know what he will be doing. He contacted me without reading anything in the listing or the house rules, and when I told him to read my house rules, instead of doing so, he said, "is there anything there that I wouldn't expect?" I really got the sense that he wanted to do as little as possible and have me do all the work and spoon feed him. I had spent time creating my listing and presenting a lot of info, and he could hardly be bothered to read what I wrote but just wanted to book ASAP. Also I wasn't comfortable that he lives in my area already, and it wasn't clear why he is looking for a new place to stay, and I didn't like that he didn't know what his plans would be at the end of the time he planned to stay with me. I like people with definite plans. So, I decided to decline.
Reply Like 1 reply•6 likes
Sally
Sally2 years ago
Yes thats sounds like a couple if inquiries I have received I declined fearing they may not leave!!!
Daniel
Daniel2 years ago
Hi everyone, thanks so much for your feedback. Your ideas and stories really helped me, and it's reassuring to know that others have had similar successes in their approaches to dealing with potential guests. Dan
Reply Like
Sally
Sally2 years ago
I agree with all the post I too have very strict guidelines and engage in questions if it does not feel right I simply decline I have already let the wrong person in once on another long term rental. so I a extremely careful!!!!!
Reply Like
Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
I't s true, people who are difficult to satisfy from the get go will probably be difficult guests. I also screen much more now that I used to when I started, but it does not always work. It starts with my description : I am very careful to say that my house is simple, unsophisticated. I still got guests who came in paying 65$ an night and expecting a 5* room for the price. I also am careful if guests say hi, are polite on the first message. Otherwise it means they just want a transaction and are not interested in having (even a basic) relationship the the host. I don't mind losing the revenue. The stress I get from bad (for me) guests is not worth it.
Reply Like 1 like
Cheryl
Cheryla year ago
I had a guest who expected 5 star quality when he knew he was coming to someone's home. I tend to avoid allowing people with no reviews stay at my place (I may make an exception for females on case to case basis). As a single girl living on my own...I have to be a lot more careful.
Reply Like 3 replies•1 like
Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
I understand being careful when allowing people into your home as a single female, but I would be losing 80% of my business if I did not allow people with no reviews. 95% of whom are terrific guests.
Cheryl
Cheryla year ago
That is true Julie and I was open to guests with no reviews before but was always very careful and relied on my gut. For now, I will review new guests on a case to case basis but at the end of the day, my safety comes first above money :-)
Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
Totally agree! :-)
Rina
Rinaa year ago
I had a guest message me who living in my area and wanted to book my place for a month. Telling me she wanted to see what it was like to live in my area. I laughed and declined her request telling her sorry I do not book for a months time. Since its illegal to sublet in my building I never book more than a weeks time. People who want to see what its like to live in the area they already live in make me nervous. She also had no reviews and nothing filled out on her profile. I tend not to book to anyone with no profile picture, no reviews and no profile filled out. Since now i have moved back to So Cal my airbnb is closed down. I am excited to start mine up again , but will have the same rules. I am single female as well. Have to be careful
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-93799
How do you respond to threats from prospective guests?
Recently a prospective guest threatened to walk away if I did not respond to her immediately. I replied by saying that this reservation would not work for us. Why?
Over the years I have learned to become more selective with people who might not be the right fit for our place. My general perspective is that this saves a lot of time and frustration in the long run (for both parties), even if I lose out on some short-term revenue.
Would love to hear in the comments from people who have a similar or different perspective. What do you look for in guest screenings? How would you have handled this situation differently?
Dan
Full story on my blog @ www.remotecontrolrentals.com
10 comments•3 likes
Following
Like
Lula and Larry
Sally
Rina
Gordon
Gordon2 years ago
I'm afraid to say that this lady would have got the instant decline from me. I have a whole load of parameters which my guests have to fit in to. If they don't fit, they don't stay. Simples!
Reply Liked 3 likes
Cheryl
Cheryl2 years ago
If someone is dishing out threats, I would decline them. Such response shows their behavior and I would wonder what they would be like in person and in my home. Not worth the pain.
Reply Liked 2 likes
Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
What a lovely way to start a (business) relationship. "If you don't respond quickly I will take my business elsewhere."
This would be my response:
.
Reply Liked 7 likes
Deborah
Deborah2 years ago
If I experience any sign of a prospective guest being demanding, I would prefer to have nothing to do with them. It is reasonable to expect that a person who is demanding in one way will be demanding in other ways and that they will be a nuisance. I would have responded in the same way you did. Even when a prospective guest seems rude or pushy, I try to respond politely, but also concisely.
Reply Like 2 likes
Deborah
Deborah2 years ago
Here is a thread I posted on New Hosts forum about red flags I look for in prospective guests:
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-76121
I just was communicating with a prospective guest, to stay for 3 months, who I am thinking I will decline. He is already in my area, a student in my area, and looking for a place to stay for 3 months, at the end of which, he says he doesn't know what he will be doing. He contacted me without reading anything in the listing or the house rules, and when I told him to read my house rules, instead of doing so, he said, "is there anything there that I wouldn't expect?" I really got the sense that he wanted to do as little as possible and have me do all the work and spoon feed him. I had spent time creating my listing and presenting a lot of info, and he could hardly be bothered to read what I wrote but just wanted to book ASAP. Also I wasn't comfortable that he lives in my area already, and it wasn't clear why he is looking for a new place to stay, and I didn't like that he didn't know what his plans would be at the end of the time he planned to stay with me. I like people with definite plans. So, I decided to decline.
Reply Like 1 reply•6 likes
Sally
Sally2 years ago
Yes thats sounds like a couple if inquiries I have received I declined fearing they may not leave!!!
Daniel
Daniel2 years ago
Hi everyone, thanks so much for your feedback. Your ideas and stories really helped me, and it's reassuring to know that others have had similar successes in their approaches to dealing with potential guests. Dan
Reply Like
Sally
Sally2 years ago
I agree with all the post I too have very strict guidelines and engage in questions if it does not feel right I simply decline I have already let the wrong person in once on another long term rental. so I a extremely careful!!!!!
Reply Like
Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
I't s true, people who are difficult to satisfy from the get go will probably be difficult guests. I also screen much more now that I used to when I started, but it does not always work. It starts with my description : I am very careful to say that my house is simple, unsophisticated. I still got guests who came in paying 65$ an night and expecting a 5* room for the price. I also am careful if guests say hi, are polite on the first message. Otherwise it means they just want a transaction and are not interested in having (even a basic) relationship the the host. I don't mind losing the revenue. The stress I get from bad (for me) guests is not worth it.
Reply Like 1 like
Cheryl
Cheryla year ago
I had a guest who expected 5 star quality when he knew he was coming to someone's home. I tend to avoid allowing people with no reviews stay at my place (I may make an exception for females on case to case basis). As a single girl living on my own...I have to be a lot more careful.
Reply Like 3 replies•1 like
Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
I understand being careful when allowing people into your home as a single female, but I would be losing 80% of my business if I did not allow people with no reviews. 95% of whom are terrific guests.
Cheryl
Cheryla year ago
That is true Julie and I was open to guests with no reviews before but was always very careful and relied on my gut. For now, I will review new guests on a case to case basis but at the end of the day, my safety comes first above money :-)
Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
Totally agree! :-)
Rina
Rinaa year ago
I had a guest message me who living in my area and wanted to book my place for a month. Telling me she wanted to see what it was like to live in my area. I laughed and declined her request telling her sorry I do not book for a months time. Since its illegal to sublet in my building I never book more than a weeks time. People who want to see what its like to live in the area they already live in make me nervous. She also had no reviews and nothing filled out on her profile. I tend not to book to anyone with no profile picture, no reviews and no profile filled out. Since now i have moved back to So Cal my airbnb is closed down. I am excited to start mine up again , but will have the same rules. I am single female as well. Have to be careful
